Flutie visits with Chargers, also looking at other teams

Chargers coach Mike Riley envisions Flutie bridging the gap to when Michael Vick, the likely first pick in the draft, is ready to play. And Flutie, who was cut by the Buffalo Bills last week, would be reunited with the general manager who brought him back to the NFL three years ago.

But the sides said they didn't talk about a contract because Flutie, the 5-foot-10 quarterback who turns 39 in October, plans to visit other teams, which he wouldn't identify.

''I really do like the situation here,'' Flutie said. ''I do have to make a couple of stops and look at a couple of other situations. I couldn't put a time frame on anything. We haven't started talking numbers, if we talk numbers at all.''

New Chargers defensive end Marcellus Wiley, a teammate of Flutie's the last three seasons, said he heard Washington, New England and Tampa Bay were interested in Flutie. However, Tampa Bay signed Brad Johnson, the most coveted free-agent quarterback, on Monday.

Flutie was clearly enthusiastic about the Chargers, though, and not scared off by their NFL-worst 1-15 record last year.

''It just seems like a good atmosphere,'' Flutie said. ''Obviously it's a team that has had a talented defense the last couple of years and has been in position to win a lot of games and just hasn't.''

Flutie had a hand in shaping the Chargers' record. He came on in relief of Rob Johnson who last week survived the Bills' long-running QB controversy and led the Bills to an overtime win over San Diego.

It was John Butler, the Chargers' new general manager, who signed Flutie from the CFL to the Bills in 1998. Flutie was 21-9 for the Bills in three seasons.

''When you look at a player like that, they're so successful, so good, that's the kind of people you want to have around you,'' Butler said. ''To be here would be great. That's a winner.''

Flutie said there's no rush on either side, and a big consideration would be his family, which includes school-aged children, staying behind in Massachusetts.

''I'm going to go where the best football situation is for now. It's only a few more years for me, and wherever that may be, I want to make the most of it on the football field,'' Flutie said.

Riley was asked how Flutie might fit in if the Chargers do indeed pick Vick.

''As far as the timeline of how long Doug would play and then when would the next quarterback, if it was Michael Vick, when would he fit in, age-wise and all that, it could be a fit,'' Riley said. ''That's a pretty subjective thing, but it has been talked about.''

Riley believes Flutie is sincerely interested in the Chargers.

''I think he sees a situation that presents a quarterback with a good opportunity,'' the coach said.

Flutie has a big fan in Wiley, who on Monday signed the biggest deal in Chargers' history, a $40 million, six-year contract that includes a $9 million signing bonus.

''As much as he's a friend off the field, on the field, I just think he can make the biggest impact for us at that position, out of all the other names out there,'' Wiley said.